Magnetoresistive effect element, thin-film magnetic head, method for manufacturing magnetoresistive effect element, and method for manufacturing thin-film magnetic head
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US ยท United States
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TDK CORPARATION
- Publication Date
- 2008-02-07
- Estimated Expiration
- Not applicable ยท inactive patent
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Abstract
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2006-209580 filed on Aug. 1, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive effect (MR) element, a thin-film magnetic head having the MR element, a method for manufacturing the MR element, and a method for manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head having the MR element.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As the recording densities of hard disk drives (HDDs) increase, highly-sensitive and high-resolution thin-film magnetic heads are being demanded. In order to meet the demand, tunnel magnetoresistive effect (TMR) thin-film magnetic heads having a TMR read head element are becoming commercially practical. TMR thin-film magnetic heads has a CPP (Current Perpendicular to Plane) structure in which sense current flows in a direction perpendicular to the film planes or layer plan...